The couple grew up in small-town Minnesota, graduated from the University of Minnesota and eventually traveled the world.

They never forgot where home was. And, as part of the couple’s final wishes, they donated nearly $1 million toward education in their hometowns, South St. Paul and Virginia, Minn.

This month, the South St. Paul Educational Foundation received $958,300 from their estate.

“It warms your heart. We couldn’t thank them enough,” said Cari Vujovich, executive director of the South St. Paul Educational Foundation. “They still remember their beginnings in each of their hometowns. It’s a wonderful love story.”

They made the donation to provide scholarships for graduates to continue their education, whether for cooking school or college.

It was a passion for education and community that Andrus and Skaurud shared, according to Vujovich.

The pair attended the University of Minnesota and received undergraduate degrees. They married during World War II and traveled the world together, ultimately visiting 119 countries before settling in Texas.

Ruth Skaurud died in 2005 and Marvin Skaurud in 2012.

The donation from their estate is the largest single donation in the South St. Paul foundation’s history.

In the past 29 years, the foundation has given more than $3 million in scholarships to about 2,000 students who have graduated from South St. Paul schools. The foundation offers at least 120 scholarships each year.

In 2013, it provided 127 scholarships, and the Skauruds’ donation will allow it to continue to help local students.

Kelsey Walker and her brother Ryan Walker graduated from South St. Paul High School. They now attend Iowa State University with the help of the foundation’s scholarships.

“It was very humbling, to be honest with you. … To get someone to donate to something, to someone they’ve never met. … It makes me work a little harder,” said Ryan Walker, who received a $20,000 scholarship in 2011 and is studying materials engineering.

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